Adjustable bowden wire



Spt 16, 1947. v I E. ROCKWELL 7 2,427,623

' ADJUSTABLE BOWDEN WIRE Original Filed June 9, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet lI02 103 I04 Edward wfi zwelt ATTOR$Y Sept. 16, 1947. E. A. ROCKWELLADJLKISTABLE BOWDEN WIRE A Original Filed June 9, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2ATTORNE Sept. 16, 1947.

'E. A. ROCKWELL ADJUSTABLE BOWDEN WIRE Original Filed June 9. 1944 3Sheets-Sheet 3 l MAX INVENTOR 2 EdwazzIA.PackweZZ ATTORNE Patented Sept.16, 1947 ADJUSTABLE BOWDEN WIRE Edward A. Rockwell, Cleveland, Ohio()riginal application June 9, 1944, Serial No.

539,583. Divided and this application February 22, 1945, Serial No.579,293

12 Claims. 1

My invention relates particularly to an adjusting means for controllingany desired apparatus or mechanism, although it is especially useful inthe adjustment of proportional pressure distributor valves.

This application is a division of my application Ser. No. 539,583, filedJune 9, 1944, upon Proportional pressure distributor valve.

The object of my invention is to provide means for adjusting the ratioof distributors. Another object is to provide a manually adjustingmechanism for adjusting a plurality of fluid pressures by means of aBowden wire. A further object is to provide an apparatus in whichpreselections,

or adjustments to change the ratios, of the prestrolling the movement ofthe distributor valve.

Still another object is to enable such adjusted ratios to be obtainedduring the time while the pressure fluid is being supplied to thedistributor valve. A further object is to provide means to allow amanual setting of the proportionate pressures to be preselected, afterwhich, when the load is taken off the apparatus, the latterautomatically resets itself to the new position to deliver the resetpressures.

While my invention is capable of embodiment in many difierent forms, forthe purpose of illustration I have shown only one form of the same inthe accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of anapparatus made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3 '3 of Fi 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a plunger stop pin taken on line 5--5 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of one of the lever pivots taken on line6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. "7 is a diagrammatic representation of a front and rear brakecontrolling system made inaccordance with my invention;

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the instrument panel used therewith; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical section of said instrument panel on lined-9 of Fig.8.

la and carrying a vacuum gauge 2 connected by a pipe 3 to any suitablesource of vacuum. This source of hydraulic fluid under pressure may beprovided and controlled, for example, in accordance with the apparatusshown and described in my copending application upon Intensifier for theapplication of power, Ser. No, 507,227, filed 0c tober 20, 1943. Thesaid panel carries, also, a gauge 4 connected by a pipe 5 'to a pipe 6for operating the front wheel brakes and, also, contains a dial 1connected by a pipe '8 to a pipe .9 for operating the rear wheel brakes.On the said panel, furthermore, there are provided a front brake handleI!) and a rear brake handle 1 I which are mounted, respectively, onlevers l2 and I3 passing through slots I4 and I5 in said panel I. Thelevers l2 and 13 are carried by a pivot pin l6 mounted on a frame llwhich is located behind the panel 1. The said frame I! has two ears I8and i9 for supporting the pivot pin 16, and has two sectors 20 and 2|having racks which cooperate with buttons 22 and 23 on the levers l2 and13, respectively, to hold them in any adjusted position. Furthermore, itwill be noted that the levers l2 and I3 have lever arms 24 and 2-5carrying headed pivot pins 26 and 21 which pass through slots 28 and 29in operating members 3D and 31 which are attached, respectively, toBowden wires 32 and 33. A washer and a cotter pin 35 are carried by eachof the rods and 21 to hold them in place in the operating members and 3l, respectively. The said Bowden wires '32 and 33 pass through flexibleconduits 35 and 31 which are fastened in an angularly shaped crossmember 38 on an arm 39 forming a part of the frame ll. The two Bowdenwires 32 and 33 lead, respectively, to proportional pressuredistributors 40 and 41, both of which are constructed alike and whichare connected to an inlet pipe 42 provided with a modulated hydraulicpressure fluid and which may be supplied from any suitable controlapparatus, preferably manually controlled, as disclosed in detail in mycopending application above referred to. It will be understood, in other"words, that the pipe 42 is arranged to supply or release the modulatedpressure liquid, as desired, for the control of any desired mechanism.This pipe 42 has branch pipes 43 and 44 leading to the proportionalpressure distributor valves 40 and M. The proportional distributor valve40, also, is connected to the pipe 6, which has branch pipes 45 and 46leading to the usual wheel brake cylinders 41 and 48 controlling theoperation of brake shoes 49 and 50. Likewise, the proportionaldistributor valve 4| is-connected to the pipe 9 which leads by branchpipes 5i and 52 to the usual wheel brake cylinders 53and-54-controlling-brake shoes 55 and 56.

Inasmuch as the twoproportional distributor 3 valves 46 and 4| areconstructed exactly alike, I have shown the detailed construction ofonly one of the same in Figs. 1 to 6, the same being, for example, theproportional distributor valve 4| which is connected to the flexibleconduit 31 containing within the same the Bowden wire 33.

The proportional distributor valve 4| has a casing 51, into one side ofwhich there is screwthreaded a sleeve 58 having screw-threaded to thesame a clamping nipple 59 provided at its outer end with ears 6!]adapted to be clamped together by a bolt 6| in order to clamp within thesame one end of the conduit 31. On the end of the Bowden wire 33 thereis secured a sleeve 62 by means of a screw 63, which holds in place ahelical spring 64 around the Bowden wire 33 within the sleeve 58. Thesaid sleeve 62 has its forward movement limited by a shoulder 65 on theinterior of the sleeve 58, the said shoulder being adjacent to anopening 66 provided to receive an adjusting rod 61 which abuts againstthe end of the sleeve 62. When assembling the conduit 3'! and the Bowdenwire 33 in the proportional distributor valve 4| it will be understoodthat the bolt BI is first loosened, after which the conduit 31, with theBowden wire 33 therein, is forced into the sleeve 58 against theadjacent end of the adjusting rod 61, after which the said bolt 6| istightened to securely clamp the end of the conduit 31 in place. Theother end of the adjusting rod 67 rests against a compressed helicalspring 68 carried in a recess 69 in a screw plug ID screw-threaded intothe casing 51. This end of the adjusting rod 6'! is supported within acylindrical web II formed on the casing 51, and the said web is providedwith a laterally directed set screw I2 (see Fig. having an end I3 whichacts as a stop by passing through a recess I4 formed on the side of therod 61. The recess 14 cooperating with the stop I3 limits the movementof the adjusting rod 61 and, also, prevents the said rod 61 fromturning. Furthermore, the said rod 61 has located at the center thereofa vertical hole I5 carryingloosely within the same a pin I6 having anupper flat surface 1! and a lower rounded end I8. The flat end I'Iprovides stability for the adjusted position of the pin 16. The rod 61,accordingly, can be moved into different adjusted positions to the rightor left, as desired, according to the proportional pressures desired tobe transmitted b the apparatus. For this purpose, the laterallyadjustable pin 16 is carried between the faces of an upper valve leverI9 and a lower valve lever 80 which are carried on pivot pins BI and 82,respectively, supported within the casing '51. Both of these pivotalsupports are constructed the same, and by way of example I have shown,in Fig. 6, a cross-section of the support for the pivot pin 82. One endof the pin 82 is carried in a recess 83 in the casing 51. so as tosupport the valve lever 80, and the other end of the pin 82 carries asleeve 84 which is maintained in place by a Cover plate 85 attached byscrews 86 to the side of the casing 51. On the other side, said casing51 has a plurality of screw holes 8! for attachment to the proportionaldistributor valve 4| to any desired support on the chassis of theautomobile.

This valve lever 80, on its lower face, is in contact with a roundedhead 88 on a fluted rod 89 supported in a recess 90 in a plunger 9|carried in a cylinder 92 within the casing 51. The said plunger 9| hasan annular rubber seal 93 around its periphery and is, also, providedwith a centrally located projection 94 extending downwardly into contactwith a fluted valve stem 95 on a tapered valve 96 which seats against avalve seat 91 on a. removable valve sleeve 98 which is provided with aperipheral rubber seal 99 and which is held in place by a split ring I09located within the cylindrical passageway 92. The valve stem 95, beyondthe conical valve 96, has a reduced end IIJI for positioning thereon ahelical spring I62, located in a recess I03 within a screw plug I04screw-threaded in said casing 51. Above the sleeve 98 there is a chamberN15 for receiving the hydraulic fluid under pressure, which is adaptedto be admitted by the conical valve 96. The said chamber I05 has twooutlet ports I96 and I01, the ports I86 being normally closed by a screwplug I98, while the port I0? is connected to the pipe 9 which leads tothe rear wheel brakes. Beneath the conical valve 96 there is an annularchamber I09 which receives the pressure liquid from an inclinedpassageway I II] leading to a vertical passageway closed at the top by aplug H2 and which communicates with an inclined passageway |I3 leadingto a chamber 4 closed by a screw plug 5 in the upper portion of thecasing 51. This chamber II 4 ha two ports I I6 and I I7, the latter ofwhich, port I I1, is connected to the pipe 44 while the former, port H6,in the apparatus as shown herein, is normally closed by a screw plugII8, inasmuch as in the apparatus as shown I have provided theproportional distributor valve 40 for operating the front brake and theproportional distributor valve 4| for operating the rear wheel brakes.However, it will be understood that instead of having a separateproportional distributor valve for controlling each of said sets ofbrakes, a single proportional distributor valve 4| could be used bymerely removing the plug IIS and connecting the port III; to the pipe 6.Within the chamber I I4, furthermore, there is a plunger I I9, having aperipheral rubber seal I28, similar to the plunger 9|. This plunger I I9has on its upper face a projection I2I to act as a guide for a, helicalspring I22, which rests against the plug IE5. The said spring I22 tendsto force the plunger I|9 downwardly and said plunger II9 carries withinthe same a fluted rod I 23 having thereon a rounded head I24 which restsagainst the upper face of the valve lever 19. The lower face of thevalve lever 19 rests against the flat surface 11 on the upper end of thepin I6.

In the operation of my apparatus, it will be understood that thepressures from the hydraulic fluid delivered to the front wheel brakecylinders 41 and 48 are registered on the dial 4 while the pressures onthe rear wheel brake cylinders 53 and 54 are registered on the dial 1.These two pressures are not only controllable by the manually modulatedpressures received from the pipe 42, but are individually controllable,respectively, by the handles I0 and I I, which can be moved to adjustthe desired pressures and so as to remain in their adjusted position byreason of the racks or sectors 20 and 2|. The adjustment of each of theBowden wires 32 and 33 connected thereto results in the desiredadjustment of the position of the vertical pin 16, which is displaceablebetween the oppositely pivoted valve levers I9 and 89 so as to obtainthe desired ratio, or even a 1 to 1 ratio, and irrespective of whetheror not the pistons 9| and II 9 are the same size as each other. However,as the end of the Bowden wire 33 acts as an adjustable abutment notfastened to the rod 61, owing to the slot 28 and the springs 64 and 68when the load from the upper and lower valve levers I9 and 89,respectively, is released a from the pin IS the rod 61 will move to theleft in Fig. 3 against the wire 33, due to the spring 68, so as to movethe wire 33 as far as the slot 28 will permit, see Fig. 9, when the pinI6 is free to move, or the rod 67 will be moved to the right in Fig; 3,b the spring 66, which is stronger than the spring 68, when the manualadjustment is made in this direction. This permits preselection of theratio in either direction without strain on or possible breakage of theBowden wire. This will be evident from the fact that the slot 28 permitsthe pin 26 to be moved or adjusted to the left, in Fig. 9, withoutmoving the Bowden wire 32 or 33, so that when pressure on the verticalpin I6 is relaxed the spring 64, which is stronger than the spring 68,will move the spring 61 to the right, in Fig. 3, to its new adjustedposition. If, on the contrary, the pin 26 is adjusted towards the right,in Fig. 9, the sleeve 62 will be moved to the left, in Fig. 3, away fromthe rod 81, and when the pressure is relaxed on the pin "IS the spring68 will move the pin 16 to the left, in Fig. 3, to its new adjustedposition. By this means, in each of the two proportional distributorvalves 49 and 4 I, a definite adjusted proportional pressure isobtainable and preselectable in each of the pipes 6 and 9 with regard tothe pressure received through the pipe 42. In thi way an adjustedconstant differential of pressures between the pressure in pipe 6 andthe incoming pressure in the pipe 42 can be secured, and the same istrue with regard to the pressure in pipe 9. The adjusted difierentialpressure in each of these instances is, of course, due to the positionof the pin 16 between the adjacent faces of the a valve levers I9 and80, so that the pressure delivered from the outlet port I! is anadjusted constant differential with regard to the pressure in the inletport I I! due to the ratios in the efiective lever lengths of the valveoperating levers 1e and 89. In this way, also, the proportional relationship may be maintained between the pressures in the pipes 6 and 9.For example, the manually controlled and modulated pressure liquidreceived by the pipe 42 immediately acts on the plunger H9 of thedistributor valves 40 and 4! and thereupon immediately establishes, bymeans of the levers I9 and 80, the pin I6, plunger 9|, and the valve 96,91, a definite differential of pressures in the chambers I I4 and IE5,inasmuch as the pressure liquid from the chamber H4 is transmittedthrough the passageways H3, III and H9 to the chamber I09 and thencepast the valve 96 to the chamber I95, the position of the valve 96 beingcontrolled in this Way to maintain the adjusted difierential ofpressures. Upon any relaxation of the pressure in the pipe 44, this willcause the pressure in the chamber I05 of the distributor valves 49 and4| to exceed the pressure in the chamber I99, thus causing the escape,to that extent, of the liquid downwardly past the valve 96, 91, upwardlythrough the passageway III, and thence to the chamber I I4 and the portI I1.

As pointed out above, however, it will be obvious that a single one ofthe proportional distributor valves 49 and M may be used for controllingboth the pressure in the pipes 6 and 9 so as to maintain the definiteadjusted differential of pressures applied thereto and for which purposethe plug I I8 will be removed so as to connect the port H6 to the pipe 6while the pipe 9 would still be connected as before. In that event, thesingle handle I I would control the differential and the otherproportional distributor valve 49 and its connections would beeliminated.

While I have described my invention above in detail I wish itto beunderstood that many changes may be made therein without departing fromthe spirit of the same.

I claim:

1. In combination, an adjusting member, a plunger on which it iscarried, a spring for moving the plunger in one direction, a casing forsaid plunger, a Bowden wire for preselecting the'adjustment of theposition of the plunger, a flexible conduit for the Bowden wire adaptedto be .secured to said casing, an abutment secured to said wire andhaving a lost-motion position with relation to said plunger, and asecond spring for moving the plunger to its above mentioned position ofadjustment in opposition to its movement by said first mentioned spring.

2. In combination, an adjusting member, a plunger on which it iscarried, a spring for moving the plunger in one direction, a casing forsaid plunger, a Bowden wire for preselecting the adjustment of theposition of the plunger, a flexible conduit forthe Bowden wire adaptedto be secured to said casing, an abutment secured to said wire andhaving a lost-motion position with relation to said plunger, and asecond spring for moving the plunger to its above mentioned position ofadjustment in opposition to its movement by said first mentioned spring,located around the wire within said casing between the abutment and saidconduit.

3. In combination, an adjusting member, a plunger on which it iscarried, a spring for moving the plunger in one direction, a casing forsaid plunger having a clamp and a cylinder, a Bowden wire extending intothe cylinder for preselecting the adjustment of the position of theplunger, a flexible conduit for the Bowden wire adapted to be secured tosaid casing clamp, an abutment in said cylinder secured to said wire andhaving a lost-motion position with relation to said plunger, and. -asecond spring for moving the plunger to its above mentioned position ofadjustment. in opposition to its movement by said first mentionedspring.

4. In combination, an adjusting member, a plunger on which it carried, aspring for moving the plunger in one direction, a casing for saidplunger having a clampand a cylinder; a' Bowden wire extending into thecylinder for preselecting the adjustment of the position of the plunger,a flexible conduit for the Bowden wire adapted to be secured to saidcasing clamp, an abutment in said cylinder secured to said wire andhaving a lost-motion with relation to said plunger, and a second springfor moving the plunger to its above mentioned position of adjustment, inopposition to its movement by said first mentioned spring, locatedaround the wire within said casing between the abutment and saidconduit.

5. In combination, an adjustable member, a spring for moving said memberin one direction, a fixed support for the member, a Bowden wire which isdisplaceable relative to said member for preselecting the adjustment ofthe position of said member, a conduit for the Bowden wire adapted to besecured to said support, and a sec ond spring being operativelyconnected to said wire and having a fixed support for moving said wiretowards said member.

6. In combination, an adjustable member, a spring for moving said memberin one direction, a fixed support for the member, a Bowden wire which isdisplaceable relative to said member for preselecting the adjustment ofthe position of said member, a conduit for the Bowden wire adapted to besecured to said support, a second spring being operatively connected tosaid wire and having a fixed support, for moving said wire towards saidmember, and a manual means having a lost motion connection with saidBowden wire.

7. In combination, an adjustable member, a spring for moving said memberin one direction, a fixed support for the member, a Bowden wire which isdisplaceable relative to said member for preselecting the adjustment ofthe position of said member, a conduit for the Bowden wire adapted to besecured to said support, and a second spring mounted on said conduit andhaving an abutment secured around the wire for moving said wire towardssaid member.

8. In combination, an adjustable member, a spring for moving said memberin one direction, a fixed support for the member, a Bowden wire which isdisplaceable relative to said member for preselecting the adjustment ofthe position of said member, a conduct for the Bowden wire adapted to besecured to said support, a second spring mounted on said conduit andhaving an abutment secured around the wire for moving said wire towardssaid member, and a manual means having a lost motion connection withsaid wire.

9. In combination, an adjustable member, a spring for moving said memberin one direction, a fixed support for the member, a Bowden wire which isdisplaceable relative to said member for preselecting the adjustment ofthe position of said member, a conduit for the Bowden wire adapted to besecured to said support, and a second spring for moving said wiretowards said member, said member having an element with a frictionsurface subjected to a releasable load normally preventing its movement.

10. In combination, an adjustable member, a spring for moving saidmember in one direction, a fixed support for the member, a Bowden Wirewhich is displaceable relative to said member for preselecting theadjustment of the position of said member, a conduit for the Bowden wireadapted to be secured to said support, a second spring for moving saidwire towards said member, and a manual means having a lost motionconnection with said wire, said member having an element with a frictionsurface subjected to a releasable load normally preventing its movement.

11. In combination, an adjustable member, a spring for moving saidmember in one direction, a fixed support for the member, a Bowden wirewhich is displaceable relative to said member for preselecting theadjustment of the position of said member, a conduit for the Bowden wireadapted to be secured to said support, and a second spring for movingsaid Wire towards said member, said member having an element with afriction surface subjected to a releasable load normally preventing itsmovement, and said member being in the form of a plunger, the ends ofwhich are arranged for cooperative adjustment by said springs and wire,said plunger having a pin and slot connection with said support.

12. In combination, an adjustable member, a spring for moving saidmember in one direction, a fixed support for the member, a Bowden wirewhich is displaceable relative to said member for preselecting theadjustment of the position of said member, a conduit for the Bowden wireadapted to be secured to said support, a second spring for moving saidwire towards said mem ber, and a manual means having a lost motionconnection with said wire, said member having an element with a frictionsurface subjected to a releasable load normally preventing its movement,and said member being in the form of a plunger, the ends of which arearranged for cooperative adjustment by said springs and wire, saidPlunger having a pin and slot connection with said support.

EDWARD A. ROCKWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the

